Homeowners Insurance and Home Sharing

Published: July 19, 2016

Home sharing is becoming a more and more popular pursuit. Travelers are beginning to realize that staying in someone's home is more comfortable and less expensive than staying in a hotel, and homeowners are discovering a tidy income that might help fund their own travel. It's a win-win! But how does home sharing affect your home insurance?

If you're renting out your home for a one-time event, like a big sporting event or a local college graduation, your regular policy likely will be enough. But talk to your insurance company first. They might require advance notice of your rental or they might ask you to purchase a special endorsement.

If you live in a hot tourist town and plan to rent out your house -- or a portion of your house -- multiple times throughout the year, your insurance company might consider that a business. If that's the case, you'll be required to purchase business insurance. If you're going to go travel the world for a year and are leaving your home in the hands of a local college student (lucky you!), your insurance company might require you to purchase a landlord policy if you'll be renting out your home for more than six months.

If your tenants damage your belongings or if your tenants' belongings are damaged during their stay, your policy likely won't cover you in either of these scenarios. Your tenants will have to use their own insurance to make a claim.

To make the home sharing process as smooth as possible, be sure to call your insurance company before handing over the keys. Happy renting!

J.K. Olivieri Insurance Agency, Inc. is an independent insurance agency founded in 1979 which represents a number of major insurance companies. Our mission is to protect our clients’ financial future. We feel our role as an insurance agency is to assist our clients in selecting the best possible programs to fill their specific needs. In doing so, we shall research and present our clients with the best possible programs available at the best possible prices.